A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Makes you go Hummm?"

A phrase that is sometimes used to describe something a person has seen, heard, or read that caused them to wonder is, "it makes you go hum?" I am sure we have all had those things that have caused us to stand back and go "Hummmm?". One of Scripture verses that causes me to do this is Hebrews 10:25; "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one other - and all the more as the Day approaches."

Scripture is replete with admonitions for God's people to meet together for corporate worship, mutual encouragement, and individual growth. The Christian life can not be lived out in isolation. In Christ we are made one with His body and anything that would keep us away from the "meeting times" of the body must be held in the highest suspect. Lack of participation in the corporate body of Christ is suicidal for any Christian. As personal as one's relationship with Christ is, it is never private! To forsake the meeting together brings ruin both to the individual and the body. Active involvement and participation in a local church is not an option for any Christian. The admonition is strong - "let us not forsake meeting with each other!"

We live very busy and demanding lives. It is not always easy to take the time to meet together with the other believers. It is easy to let this essential Christian discipline, this glorious privilege, this joyous occasion, slip. Many churches in response to declining attendances are reducing the number of services they have. They have concluded that it is better attempting one service a week with a large crowd than to have several services with smaller crowds. People are just too tired, overworked and busy. Does the decline in church attendance and the reduced number of services make you go, "hum?" It does me. Why? The verse says that we are to meet together "all the more as the Day approaches."

We are much closer to "the Day" than when this verse was written, though I am sure that the writer never dreamed that people 2000 years after his writing would be reading these words. Nonetheless, we are closer to The Day. The Scriptural instruction is that as The Day draws nearer we are to meet together more often. We need each other and the mutual encourage that comes from corporate worship, prayer, Bible study and proclamation. One hour a week with the body a healthy Christian does not make. We will not be able to withstand what lies ahead for us as The Day approaches unless they are securely connected to the body of Christ.

Scripture enjoins us to meet together "all the more" and we are reducing the number of times that we meet together? Scripture calls for us to meet "all the more" and we are seeing declining church attendance? Makes you go, "hummmm," doesn't it?

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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